Locomotive steam distribution



Oct. 6, 1931. H. w. SNYDER ET AL nocomonvz: STEAM DISTHIBUTIbN FiledJune 15; 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet. l

' 1 BY 24m Nvr-i TOR-5 1 AT oRNEw Get. 6, 1931. H. w. SNYDER ET ALLOCOMOTIVE STEAM DISTRIBUTION Filed June 15, 1928 3 ShestS-ShBBt. 2

||||| llllllllilt l 1 I v l l 'VENTOEE.

AKTQRN Eva *Qi 5, 1931. H. w. SNYDER ET AL LOCOMOTIVE STEAM DISTRIBUTIONFiled June 15, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet, 3

AT RNEYS Patented 9st. 6, 1931 rem orFrrc-s Hnnnnn'r W. snYnnn ANDROBERT B. KRUEGER, F LIMA, OHIO,

LoooMorIvn STEAM msmmemN Application filed June 15,

This invention relates to locomotive steam distribution, andparticularly to the. conducting of the steam to and theexhaust from thecylinders of Shay geared locomotives.

Among the pri'mary'objects of the. present invention are: thesimplification ofthesteam and exhaust distribution of steam engines,particularly of the character above-mentioned; the elimination ofcumbersome steam distributing castings heretofore employed, such, forexample, as the steam brackets usually rigidly secured-between thecylinders and the boil-er to support the former and to provide steam andexhaust passages thereto; the reduction of the-weight of the steamconduits; the minimization of strains due to excessive weight oftheparts and also to temperature chan es, and in consequence thereof theobviation of the necessity of substantial and more or less permanentsupports or brackets between the cylinders and theside of the boiler asheretofore employed in Shay locomotives; the elimination of crossing ofthe steam-and exhaust pipes with its consequent complication ofconnections and wastage of space; the provision of means whereby thespacing; of the connections to thecylinders maybe determined to suit theerecting shop, as required; the provision of flexibility for the steampipes to compensate for temperature changes in service andthe entiresepara tion of the steam and exhaust lines. 7

How these, and such other objects and advantages as are incident to theinvention or will occur to those skilled in the art,are attained,will-be evident from the following description, taken together with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view through a Shay gearedlocomotive, looking forward, with certain parts broken away and certainothers omitted to illustrate the application of the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken approximately on the line22 of Fig. 1;

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view through the valve-chest shown inFig. 1, with associated parts in elevation;

Figure l is an enlarged fragmentary section of Fig. 3; and

1928. Serial No. 285,541.

Figure 5 is a. view similar to Fig. 3, but with the valve-chest in;elevation, illustrating a modification of the invent-ion. 7

Referring first to Fig. 11-, it will be seen that we have illustrated aShay geared locomotive having the usual wheels 2, 2,1ongi tudinalframemembers 3, 3, transverse frame membersgl, 5, boiler 6, and cab 7 theboiler being offset laterally with respectto the longitudinal centreline of the wheelbase as; is usual, to provide for the mounting oftheengines and other parts at the. right handside thereof.

A supporting structure comprising i a crank-shaft bearing support member8, crosshead guides 9, 9, diagonal bracing web 10, and bracket structure11, is secured preferably to the right frame member 3, asby-bolts 12-andl3, beneath each cylinder of the engine, each cylinder 14: with itsvalve-chest 15 be '10 ing preferably mounted on one of the bracketlikesupports,v 11. The bottom ofeaclr bearin g-support; member 8 isprovidedwith asuitable recess 16 for receiving a bearingof thecrankshaft (notshown), said crank-shafgin accordance-with theusualjpractice, being connected by bevelled gears to the axles orwheels, and being driven bythe usual con; necting-rods from thecross-heads (not shown) which are slidable vertically in the g0 guideways 9, 9. A morev detailed descrip tion of this structure isunnecessary to a clear comprehension of the present invention.

The cylinders 14, as will be seen from E2, arelocatedin a row,longitudinally of the 5 locomotive, one end cylinder and valve-chestunit, let, 15, being reversed with respect to the othersin order tobring them as close together as possible so as to maintain thev commoncrank-shaft as short as is practicable.

lVhile the cylinder and valve-Chest construction'is not per se a partofthe present invention, we have illustratedin thedrawings(particularlyin Fig. 3,)a construction in which each chest 15 is formedintegralwith its cylinoer'le', the cylinder being mounted, by one of itsends 17, on the base or bracket 11, and the other end thereof beingcovered by a head-plate 18. The chest 15' has a, bore 19 adapted toreceive suitable bushings anda 1.00

piston valve, the ports 20 each extending laterally into an end of thecylinder. The steam inlet connection 21 opens into the central cavity22, and the exhaust outlets or connections 23 con'nnunicate with the endexhaust cavities 24. In the construction shown, (Figs. 1 to at), aconduit 25 forming a passage 26 connects the two exhaust cavities, sothat the exhaust from both ends may be dis charged at either end outlet23, the other being closed by a suitable cover plate 27.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a main steampipe or con duit 28, preferably of steel tubing, extendinglongitudinally of the boiler and lying between the same and the row ofcylinders, and a similar main exhaust pipe or conduit 29 similarlypositioned.

The exhaust pipe has three apertures 30 cut therein, one for the exhaustfrom each cylinder, and at the forward end is provided with a flange 31or other suitable means for connecting it with a pipe leading forwardlyto the nozzle in the smoke-box (not shown). Cast steel elbows 32 (seeFigs. 1, 3 and 4;), having flanges 33 for securing the same by bolts 34to the engine castings, provide communication between the several unitsof the engine and the main exhaust pipe 29. The juncture of each elbowwith the respective exhaust outlet 23 is constructed to provide acertain degree of movement or flexibility, by means of the joint ring35, which, as will be seen in Fig. el, has one flat face and one eonvexor rounded face; and, for the purpose of permitting sutlicient rotativemovement to compensate for expansion and contraction in the main andbranch conduits, the apertures for bolts 34: may each be made somewhatlarger in diameter than the shank of the bolt.

The juncture of the elbows 32, for the forward and middle cylinders,with pipe 29 is by means of an annular band 36, provided with aninternal peripheral groove or channel 37 forming on each side thereofannular engaging portions or seats 38. Elbow 32 for the rear cylinder(at the right of Fig. 2) has a similar band 36a with groove 3701.providing bearing faces 38, and in addition an end closure 39 for therear end of pipe 29.

These three cast steel elbows, with their integral bands, are positionedalong the pipe to suit the erecting shop, so as to register accuratelywith the exhaust outlets 23, and each is shrunk and welded on the tube29, the separated hearing or engaging surfaces 38, 38, providing a goodfirm seating of the band on the pipe, and the welds l0 providing anabsolutely tight joint.

The main steam pipe 28 is similarly equipped with apertures 30a, 30a,but we have in the present construction ended the pipe at the frontcylinder (the left cylinder in Fig. 2), providing a connection to thepipe ll leading from the superheater header in the smoke-box (not shown)by means of an extension t2 of the band 366, which forms a stuffing boxaround pipe ll. The packing 43 is retained by a flanged ring 44. and theexpansion and contraction of pipe 41., carrying the live steam, is takencare of by the sliding connection which this pipe makes with ring 44 andsurface 38a. The three admission elbows 45 (as in the case of theexhaust elbows 32) are made of cast steel, and their respective bands36?), 36c and 361/, are shrunk and welded on pipe 28 as shown. the rearelbow being provided with a closure 39a for pipe 28. Connection to eachvalvechest inlet 21 is made by a flange 46 and bolts 47, and suitablejoint rings are provided, similar to the rings employed in the exhaustjoints, allowing sui'iicient movement at the joints to compensate forexpansion of pipe 28 by the heat of the steam.

In the construction shown in Fig. 5, we have employed a separate mainexhaust pipe 29 for the upper ends of the cylinders and a separate mainexhaust pipe 29 for the lower ends thereof, with an intermediate mainsteam pipe 28. The elbows 32 and 45 are somewhat altered in form, butthe whole construction embodies exactly the same principles as thatfirst described.

\V e prefer to make all of the elbow castings, and particularly theadmission elbows (since the steam supply line is subject to a verysubstantial degree of expansion and contraction) each with a bend eitherhorizontally or vertically (as seen in Figs. 2 and 3) and with the axialline of its flanged end suiiiciently offset from the axial line of themain conduit as to insure the translation of longitudinal movement ofthe conduit, under expansion or contraction, into a slight rotativemovement at the point of juncture with the chest. An added advantage ofthe bent elbow construction is that it makes for COnVenient access tothe bolts securing the flanges to the chests.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that we havesimplified the distribution of steam to, and the carrying away of theexhaust from. the usual row of cylinders at the side of a gearedlocomotive, by a construction which is light in weight and easilyadaptable to various cylinder spacings and arrangements, which providesti ht connec tions and yet compensates for expansion and contraction,and which eliminates the necese sity for the usual heavy castingsdirectly mounted on the boiler with their attendant inconvenience ofaccess to the joints.

hat we claim is 1. Steam distribution means for the cylinders andvalve-chests of a geared locomotive comprising main steam conduit meansextending along a row of cylinders, main exhaust conduit means extendingalong said row, and branch conduits having flexible means of connectionto the chests oi said cylinders.

2. Steam distribution means for the cylintive comprising unitary mainsteam conduit means extending along a row of cylinders, unitary mainexhaust conduit means extending along said roW, and branch conduitsadapted to be connected to the chests of said cylinders, each of saidbranch conduits comprising an elbow casting having a ring shrunk on amain conduit.

4. Steam distribution means for the cylinders and valve-chests of ageared locomotive comprising unitary main steam conduit means extendingalong a row of cylinders, unitary main exhaust conduit means extendingalong said row, and branch conduits adapted to be connected to thechests of said cylinders, each of said branch conduits comprising anelbow casting having a ring shrunk on a main conduit and welded thereto;

5. Steam distribution means for the cylinders and valve-chests of ageared locomotive comprising unitary main steam conduit means extendingalong a row of cylinders, unitary main exhaust conduit means extendingalong said row, and branch conduits adapted to be connected to thechests of said cylinders, each of said branch conduits comprising anelbow casting having a ring with spaced internal peripheral ribsengaging a main conduit and shrunk thereon.

6. Steam distribution means for the cylinders and valve-chests of ageared locomotive comprising main steam conduit means extending along arow of cylinders, main exhaust conduit means extending along said row,and branch conduits each having a ball connection for attachment to achest of a cylinder.

7. Steam distribution means for the cylinders and valve-chests of ageared locomotive comprising main steam conduit means extending along arow of cylinders, main exhaust conduit means extending along said row,and branch conduits adapted to be connected to the chests of saidcylinders, each of said branch conduits being rigidly attached to itsmain conduit and having means of flexible connection'to a valve-chest.

8. In locomotive apparatus of the character described, a unitary mainsteam-conveying conduit with lateral ports, and a row of branch conduitseach registering .with a .port and having an annular band securing it tothe main conduit, thebranch conduit at the end of the'row having meansproviding an end closure for the main conduit, said bandsbeinginternally peripherally recessed. 9. Inapparatus of the characterdescribed, a ma n steam conduit, a main exhaust conduit, and a row ofbranch conduit castings on each maincondu t, anend cast ngofeach rowhaving means forming a closure for the end of the respect ve mainconduit, and the opposite end cast ngon the main steam conduit havingmeans forming sliding joint for a main steam delivery pipe.

it). In apparatus of the character described, a main steam conduit, amain ex haust conduit, and a row ofjbranch conduit castings on each mainconduit, an end casting oilea'ch row having means forming a closure forthe end of the respective main couduit, and the opposite-end castingonthe main steam conduit liavi'ng means forming a slidingjoint 'for. amain steam jdelivery pipe and providing a packing recess therearound'. v

11. In steam-conveying apparatus for a plurality of cylinders, a'unitary main steam conduit of steel. tubing, and a row of cast steelelbows spaced therealong each to deliver to a cylinder, eachof' saidelbow eastings having an integral band encircling the ,main conduit.

1 -1 steamecnveyillg apparatus for a plurality of'cylinders, a unitarymain steam condu t or steel tubing and, a now of cast steel elbowsspaced ,therealong' each to deliver to a cylinder, each ofsaid elbowcastingshaving an integralband' encirclingthe 7 main conduit and shrunkthereon.

13. In steam-conveyingapparatus for a plurality of cylinders,a,unitarymain steam conduit, of steel tubing, an,d-.a row of cast steelelbowsspacedjtlierealong each, toqdeliver to a cylinder,eacho't said elbowcast ings having an integral, bandencircling the main conduit and shrunkand w lded hereo 14. In steam-conveying apparataisy for a plurality ofcylinders, a main conduit with spaced lateral apertures, and; a row ofelbow castings spaced therealong each to connect to a cylinder, each ofsaid castings having a band with an internal peripheral groove inregistry with one of said apertures and forming at each side thereof anannular rib adapted to engage the main conduit when the casting isshrunk thereon.

15. In steam-conveying apparatus for a plurality of cylinders, a mainconduit With spaced lateral apertures, .and a row of elbow castingsspaced therealong each to connect to a cylinder, each of said castingshaving a band with an internal peripheral groove in registry with one ofsaid apertures and forming at each side thereof an annular rib adaptedto engage the main conduit when the casting is shrunk thereon, togetherwith a welded joint along the line of engagement of each rib with themain conduit.

16. In steam-conveying apparatus for a plurality of aligned locomotivecylinders, the con'ibination of a substantially straight w main conduitextending along the row of cylinders, and a branch conduit for eachcylinder connected to the main conduit and having an end with means ofconnection to a cylinder, the axial line of said end being ofiset withrespect to the axis of the main conduit.

1.7. In steam-conveying apparatus for a plurality of aligned locomotivecylinders, the combination of a substantially straight main conduitextending along the row of cylinders, and a branch conduit for eachcylinder connected to the main conduit and having an end with means ofconnection to a cylinder, the axial line of said end being offset withrespect to the axis of the main conduit, and said means of connectionincluding a ball-like joint member.

18. In combination with a locomotive and its boiler, a horizontal row ofsubstantially :zc vertically positioned cylinder and valve chest unitsdisposed along one side of the boiler, a main steam pi 3e and a mainexhaust pipe extending along the row between the units thereof and theboiler, and branch pipes connecting each main pipe with each unit.

19. In combination with a locomotive and its boiler, a horizontal row ofsubstantlally vertically positioned cylinder and valve .40 chest unitsdisposed along one side of theboiler, a main steam pipe and a mainexhaust pipe extending along the row between the units thereof and theboiler, and branch pipes connecting each main pipe with each 45 unit,said branch pipes being constructed and positioned to accommodatelongitudinal expansion and contraction of said main pipes.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto 5 signed our names.

HERBERT IV. SNYDER. ROBERT E. KRUEGER.

